Armagh vs Derry LIVE score updates from 2024 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final

For the second year in a row, the All-Ireland MFC final is a repeat of the Ulster final as Derry take on Armagh.

The Oak Leafers are the defending champions after defeating Monaghan in both the provincial and All-Ireland finals last season.

They are also back-to-back Ulster champions after a two-point win over the Orchard County in May.

Indeed, it is the third Championship meeting between the sides and the third time in successive seasons that two teams from the same province have contested the minor final after Galway defeated Mayo in 2022.

Armagh looked a long way off being All-Ireland contenders when they suffered a 17-point loss to Derry in the group stages of the Ulster series in Owenbeg.

However, Aidan O’Rourke’s side absorbed the lessons of that game and the gap between the sides was just two points in the Ulster final three weeks later.

The Orchard County also had a few late goal changes to snatch the Ulster title at O’Neills Healy Park and they’ve seen gone go to defeat Leinster champions Longford and Connacht champions Mayo in the All-Ireland series.

Derry have come through tough battles against Derry and Kerry in recent weeks and Damian McErlain’s side are hoping to win a third All-Ireland title for the county in five seasons while Armagh are bidding for their first since 2009.

We’ll have all the latest team news and build-up ahead of throw-in at O’Neills Healy Park at 2pm.

Key EventsManagers bemoan final venue 13:19A recap of how the Ulster Final unfolded 13:0613:19KEY EVENTManagers bemoan final venue

While a big crowd is expected at O’Neills Healy Park this afternoon, both Armagh and Derry feel the game should be taking place at Croke Park.

Speaking to Belfast Live earlier this week, Derry boss Damian McErlain stated: “When you see all the different matches that are taking place at Croke Park, there’s no reason why this couldn’t be played before one of them.

“I think the whole minor Championship is being diluted left, right and centre between no speeches, no Man-of-the-Matches and no interviews. I don’t think anyone is listening - it is falling on deaf ears.

“I don’t think anyone is listening because I don’t see anyone bringing the conversation up.

“I think even without stringing the season out longer, you could have them before the All-Ireland semi-finals.

“You’ve two matches next weekend. You could play the minors at 12 o’clock. At the end of the day, the minors aren’t going to fill Croke Park, but it is a curtain-raiser.

“At the same time, to win an All-Ireland at Croke Park would be something else for the boys. Some of them will never get to play there. Some of the lads will never get to run out at Croke Park after this age group.”

His sentiments were echoed by Armagh Coach Stefan Forker.

“I’ve spoken about my own experiences and the big days I got to enjoy,” said Forker.

“We (Armagh minors) played before the seniors in 2005 and there were 60-65,000 in Croke Park by the end of the match.

“If you’re seeing that as a negative thing as a player then I think you’re not going to go too far and if we are preparing them for senior teams then surely, if they are going to play there in four or five years’ time, it’s a chance for them to learn to deal with that.

“I know there is a problem fixture-wise, but Croke Park could certainly facilitate a final.”

ShareComments13:06KEY EVENTA recap of how the Ulster Final unfolded Armagh's Shea Loughran tackles Derry's Rian Collins in May's Ulster final at O'Neills Healy Park and the sides return to the Omagh venue for Sunday's All-Ireland MFC final (Image: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes)

Ulster Minor Football Championship final: Derry 0-12 Armagh 1-7

Derry retained the Ulster MFC title, but they were pushed all the way by a gallant Armagh side in a tight, low-scoring provincial final in O’Neills Healy Park.

The Oak Leafers defeated the Orchard by 17 points three weeks prior to the final in Owenbeg. Yet, the early exchanges hinted that Armagh had absorbed the lessons of that heavy defeat.

A well-organised Armagh defence proved very difficult to break down with both teams mirroring each other.

Each time Derry moved ahead, Armagh responded with Eamon Young and Ger Dillon doing the damage for the holders while Eoin Duffy (free) Sean Woods and Keelan Woods on target for the Orchard.

Derry moved 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after Dillon converted a stunning long-range free before Armagh struck for what proved to be the game’s only goal. Ross Marsden’s high delivery was superbly fielded by Jack Loughran, who set up Duffy for a well-taken finish.

Yet, Derry forged their way back into the lead before half-time with Young, Dillon and captain James Sargent landing points.

Armagh were also reduced to 14 players before the break with Marsden shown a black card for a hand trip on Caoimhin Hargan.

Dillon and Young moved Derry into a three-point lead early in the second half before Aaron Garvey ended a 22-minute spell without a score for Armagh.

Derry looked to have done enough to put the game beyond doubt when Dillon and the equally-impressive Lule Grant landed back-to-back points while Michael Finnegan made a stunning save to deny Ruairi Biggs.

Armagh were fortunate to avoid a second black card when Diarmaid O’Rourke hauled Grant to the ground with Barry McMenamin showing the Orchard wing-back a yellow card instead.

Young’s fifth point moved Derry into a four-point lead and Armagh were forced to go for broke in the final few minutes of the game.

They cut the gap to two with back-to-back frees from Duffy and Derry were relieved when the Armagh full-forward played the ball on the ground in the final passage of the game when he was just metres from the Derry goal.

Derry scorers: Eamon Young 0-5 (0-2fs), Ger Dillon 0-5 (0-3fs), Luke Grant 0-1, James Sargent 0-1.

Armagh scorers: Eoin Duffy 1-3 (0-3fs), Keelan McEntee 0-1, Sean Woods 0-1, Aaron Garvey 0-1, Fionn Toale 0-1.

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